Menstrual-cycle lengthening and reduction in premenstrual distress through guided imagery

This study investigated the effects of a program of relaxation and specific guided imagery on menstrual-cycle length and premenstrual distress. Thirty healthy college women with regular menstrual cycles were studied for 6 months. The subjects completed the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) at the beginning and end of the study and recorded their menstrual cycles for 3 months on an investigator-developed calendar recording sheet. Subjects were then given an audiotape with a progressive muscle relaxation exercise followed by guided imagery with a suggestive message focusing on lengthening the menstrual cycle and delaying the onset of menstrual bleeding. The 15 subjects who completed the entire study had significant increases in cycle lengths during the 3 months of imagery. The total premenstrual distress scores also declined significantly, as did the subscales measuring behavior and negative affect. This study provides preliminary evidence that menstrual-cycle rhythmicity and premenstrual distress are amenable to the mind-body intervention of guided imagery and suggests that further investigation of this phenomena with larger sample size and careful controls for confounding variables be conducted.